Display control device with functionality in a response to an approaching object

ABSTRACT

A display control device includes an operation-display unit and a controller. The operation-display unit hierarchically displays multiple functions using multiple screens and accepts an operation performed through an approach or touch of an object. The controller performs control so that, when the object approaches a function displayed on an original screen, a next screen associated with the function selected as a result of the approach of the object is temporarily displayed using a display mode corresponding to a relationship between the original screen and the next screen.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/854,476, filed Apr. 1, 2013, which is based on and claims priorityunder 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-179975 filedAug. 14, 2012.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present invention relates to a display control device, an imageforming apparatus, a display control method, and a non-transitorycomputer readable medium.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a displaycontrol device including an operation-display unit and a controller. Theoperation-display unit hierarchically displays multiple functions usingmultiple screens and accepts an operation performed through an approachor touch of an object. The controller performs control so that, when theobject approaches a function displayed on an original screen, a nextscreen associated with the function selected as a result of the approachof the object is temporarily displayed using a display modecorresponding to a relationship between the original screen and the nextscreen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described indetail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration ofan image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration ofan operation-display section according to the exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a specific example of a configurationof an operation panel;

FIGS. 4A to 4D are schematic diagrams describing a detection function ofa touch panel;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a display controlprocess;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a relationship-basedtemporary display process;

FIGS. 7A to 7D are screen transition diagrams for the case where thenext screen is a lower layer screen;

FIGS. 8A to 8D are screen transition diagrams for the case where thenext screen is a parallel layer screen; and

FIGS. 9A to 9D are screen transition diagrams for the case where thenext screen is an option displaying screen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described indetail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Image Forming Apparatus

An image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention will be described first. The image forming apparatusaccording to this exemplary embodiment may be a multifunction printerthat provides multiple service processes. In this exemplary embodiment,the image forming apparatus provides multiple service processes, whichinclude at least a copy process, a print process, an image readingprocess, and a facsimile process. Hereinafter, the copy process, theprint process, the image reading process, and the facsimile process maybe referred to as “copying”, “printing”, “scanning”, and “fax”,respectively. Also, the service processes may be simply referred to as“services”, such as a copy process being referred to as “copy”.

Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration ofthe image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus10 includes a controller 12, an operation-display section 14, an imagereading section 16, an image forming section 18, a sheet transportingsection 20, a communication section 22, and a memory 24. Thisconfiguration of the image forming apparatus 10 is merely an example,and thus the configuration and arrangement of the individual componentsmay be changed, such as an unnecessary functional section being removedor a new functional section being added.

The controller 12 is implemented as a computer that controls the imageforming apparatus 10 and performs various computations. Specifically,the controller 12 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 12A, a readonly memory (ROM) 12B that stores various programs, a random accessmemory (RAM) 12C that is used as a work area during execution of aprogram, a nonvolatile memory 12D that stores various pieces ofinformation, and an input/output interface (I/O) 12E. The CPU 12A, theROM 12B, the RAM 12C, the nonvolatile memory 12D, and the I/O 12E areconnected to each other via a bus 12F.

Each of the operation-display section 14, the image reading section 16,the image forming section 18, the sheet transporting section 20, thecommunication section 22, and the memory 24 is connected to the I/O 12Eof the controller 12. The controller 12 exchanges information with eachof the operation-display section 14, the image reading section 16, theimage forming section 18, the sheet transporting section 20, thecommunication section 22, and the memory 24 to control the section.

The operation-display section 14 includes various buttons and anoperation panel that displays various screens. With these components,the operation-display section 14 accepts operations performed by theuser and displays various pieces of information to the user. Detailsabout the configuration of the operation-display section 14 will bedescribed later.

The image reading section 16 includes an image reading device, such asan image sensor, that optically reads an image formed on sheet; and ascanning mechanism that performs a scan on a sheet. With thesecomponents, the image reading section 16 reads an image formed on anoriginal document placed at the image reading section 16 and generatesimage information.

The image forming section 18 is a device that forms an image on a sheet.For example, the image forming section 18 that uses theelectrophotographic system to form an image includes an image formingunit and a fixing device. The image forming unit includes aphotoconductor drum, a charging device, an exposure device, a developingdevice, a transfer device, and a cleaning device.

Now, an image forming operation based on the electrophotography will bebriefly described. The photoconductor drum is charged by the chargingdevice. The exposure device exposes the charged photoconductor drum tolight that is modulated based on image data, thereby forming anelectrostatic latent image based on the image data on the photoconductordrum. The developing device develops, by using toners, the electrostaticlatent image formed on the photoconductor drum. The transfer devicetransfers the resultant toner image formed on the photoconductor drumonto a sheet. The fixing device fixes the transferred toner image on thesheet.

The sheet transporting section 20 includes a sheet container that holdssheets therein, pickup rollers that pick up a sheet from the sheetcontainer, and transporting rollers that transport a sheet that has beenpicked up. With these components, the sheet transporting section 20transports a sheet picked up from the sheet container to the imageforming section 18. The sheet transporting section 20 also transports asheet on which an image has been formed by the image forming section 18to a sheet output tray.

The communication section 22 is an interface that communicates with anexternal apparatus via a wired or wireless communication network. Forexample, the communication section 22 functions as an interface thatcommunicates with an external apparatus, such as a computer, that isconnected thereto via a network, such as a local area network (LAN) orthe Internet. For example, the communication section 22 communicateswith an external apparatus, such as a computer, so as to acquire imageinformation, image formation information used in image formation, or thelike from the external apparatus. The communication section 22 may alsoacquire various programs, such as application programs, from an externalapparatus.

The memory 24 includes a storage device, such as a hard disk drive. Thememory 24 stores various programs and various kinds of data, such as logdata.

Various drives may be connected to the controller 12. The drives aredevices that read data from computer readable portable recording media,such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a compact disc-readonly memory (CD-ROM), and a Universal Serial Bus (USB) memory, and thatwrite data on the computer readable portable recording media. When thevarious drives are connected, the controller 12 may load a programrecorded on a portable recording medium by using the corresponding driveand may execute the program.

Configuration of Operation-Display Section

Now, a configuration of the operation-display section 14 will bedescribed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration ofthe operation-display section 14 according to this exemplary embodimentof the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 2, theoperation-display section 14 includes a display controller 30, anoperation panel 40, a display screen generation unit 42, an inputaccepting unit 44, and a memory 46. As described with reference to FIG.1, the operation-display section 14 is connected to the controller 12 ofthe image forming apparatus 10 via the I/O 12E. The configuration of theoperation-display section 14 is merely an example, and thus theconfiguration and arrangement of the individual components may bechanged, such as an unnecessary functional unit being removed or a newfunctional unit being added.

The display controller 30 is implemented as a computer that controls theoperation-display section 14 and performs various computations.Specifically, the display controller 30 includes a CPU 32, a ROM 34, anda RAM 36. In this exemplary embodiment, the ROM 34 stores a controlprogram used when a “display control process” described below or thelike is executed. The CPU 32 reads the stored program from the ROM 34and executes the program by using the RAM 36 as a work area. Similarlyto the controller 12, the display controller 30 may acquire programs viathe communication section 22 and various drives.

Each of the CPU 32, the ROM 34, and the RAM 36 of the display controller30 is connected to the display screen generation unit 42, the inputaccepting unit 44, and the memory 46 via a bus 48. The displaycontroller 30 exchanges information with the display screen generationunit 42, the input accepting unit 44, and the memory 46 to control thesecomponents.

The operation panel 40 includes a touch panel 60 that includes a liquidcrystal display for displaying various screens, and various buttons 70,such as a start button and numeral buttons. In this exemplaryembodiment, the touch panel 60 detects whether or not an object is inthe vicinity of the touch panel 60 and whether or not an object is incontact with the touch panel 60. Here, examples of the “object” includea user's finger and a writing tool used to perform an operation on theoperation panel 40. Details about arrangement of the individualcomponents of the operation panel 40 and the touch panel 60 will bedescribed later. The operation panel 40 is connected to each of thedisplay screen generation unit 42 and the input accepting unit 44.

The display screen generation unit 42 acquires screen data in accordancewith an instruction given thereto from the display controller 30, anddisplays a screen based on the acquired screen data on the operationpanel 40. The screen data is stored in the memory 46. The inputaccepting unit 44 accepts an operation performed by the user on theoperation panel 40; identifies a set function, a set value, a pressedbutton, and so forth; and notifies the display controller 30 of theobtained information.

In response to an instruction for starting a service process, thedisplay controller 30 instructs the controller 12 of the image formingapparatus 10 to execute the service process. Based on the content of theservice process, the controller 12 controls the image reading section16, the image forming section 18, the sheet transporting section 20, thecommunication section 22, and the memory 24 to execute the serviceprocess.

The memory 46 stores various kinds of data. In this exemplaryembodiment, the memory 46 stores screen data 50, a relationshipdetermination table 52, and control data 54. The screen data 50 includespieces of data that correspond to various screens to be displayed on theoperation panel 40. The operation panel 40 displays a “service selectionscreen” that displays a list of available services, “setting screens”that hierarchically display settable functions using multiple screens,and so forth. In this exemplary embodiment, the service selection screenis included the setting screens.

The relationship determination table 52 is a table used to identify arelationship between an “original screen” that displays multiplefunctions and a “next screen” associated with a selected function. Thatis, the relationship determination table 52 is a table that represents arelationship among the original screen, the next screen, and thedetermination result. It is determined based on the relationshipdetermination table 52 whether the relationship between the originalscreen and the next screen is a relationship in which the next screen isa “lower layer screen” of the original screen, a relationship in whichthe next screen is a “parallel layer screen” of the original screen, ora relationship in which the next screen is an “option displaying screen”of the original screen. For example, in the case where the “originalscreen” is a basic settings screen and the “next screen” is an imagequality adjustments screen, the relationship therebetween is parallellayer screens (see FIGS. 8A to 8D).

The control data 54 includes various kinds of data used when the displaycontroller 30 executes a display control process. The various kinds ofdata may take a form of set values, tables, graphs, or the like.Examples of the control data 54 include an “initial value of eachfunction” that is used when the set value is initialized.

Operation Panel

Referring now to FIG. 3, an example of the configuration of theoperation panel 40 will be described specifically. The operation panel40 is arranged at an easy-to-operate position for the user, such as onan upper surface of the body of the image forming apparatus 10. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, the operation panel 40 includes the touch panel60 and the buttons 70. Each of the buttons 70 is arranged in thevicinity of the touch panel 60.

The touch panel 60 has a function of a liquid crystal display. Thefunction of a liquid crystal display allows the touch panel 60 todisplay a screen, such as a setting screen, thereon. When an objectapproaches or touches an image (a button) displayed on the touch panel60, a function or the like associated with the image is identified inaccordance with position information regarding an area where theapproach or touch is detected. That is, an object approaches or touchesa function displayed on the screen. Hereinafter, an action in which anobject approaches a button representing a function is referred to as “topress a button halfway”, whereas an action in which an object touches abutton representing a function is referred to as “to fully press abutton”.

Examples of a method used by the touch panel 60 to detect an approach ortouch of an object include a resistive film method that uses metal thinfilms that constitute transparent electrodes, an electrostaticcapacitance method in which a position is identified by detecting achange in electrostatic capacitance between the fingertip and aconductive film, an infrared radiation blocking method, and anelectromagnetic induction method. The detection method may be any methodthat enables identification of the position information of the object onthe liquid crystal display and is not limited to the above ones.

In this exemplary embodiment, the case of using the touch panel 60 ofelectrostatic capacitance type will be described. The touch panel 60 ofelectrostatic capacitance type includes multiple electrostatic sensorsarranged in a grid pattern. A detection value changes depending on achange in electrostatic capacitance. When a finger, which is an object,approaches or touches an electrostatic sensor, the detectedelectrostatic capacitance increases. Each of the multiple electrostaticsensors independently detects electrostatic capacitance. The touch panel60 outputs the detected electrostatic capacitance values to the inputaccepting unit 44.

The buttons 70 include numeral buttons 72, a start button 74, a resetbutton 76, and a clear button 78. The numeral buttons 72 are used by theuser to enter a value, such as the number of copies. The start button 74is used to start execution of each service. The reset button 76 is usedto reset the selected service and the set value of each function. Theclear button 78 is used to clear the set value of each function. Theconfiguration of the operation panel 40 is merely an example, and thusthe configuration and arrangement of the individual components may bechanged, such as an unnecessary button being removed or a new buttonbeing added.

Detection Function

Referring now to FIGS. 4A to 4D, a detection function of the touch panel60 will be described. When an object 90 approaches the touch panel 60,detected electrostatic capacitance increases. The input accepting unit44 detects an approach or touch of the object 90 on the basis of thevalue of the detected electrostatic capacitance, and outputs a detectionsignal to the display controller 30. If the change in electrostaticcapacitance is smaller than a predetermined lower limit, the approach ortouch of the object 90 is not detected and no detection signal isoutput. If the change in electrostatic capacitance is larger than apredetermined upper limit, a touch of the object 90 is detected and atouch detection signal is output. If the change in electrostaticcapacitance is greater than or equal to the predetermined lower limitand is smaller than or equal to the predetermined upper limit, anapproach of the object 90 is detected and an approach detection signalis output.

As illustrated in FIG. 4A, when the object 90 approaches a button 62displayed on the touch panel 60, the button 62 is pressed halfway and ascreen (hereinafter, referred to as a “next screen”) associated with thebutton 62 is temporarily displayed on the touch panel 60. Also, when theobject 90 approaches a button 64 displayed on the next screen, thebutton 64 is pressed halfway and a screen associated with the button 64(hereinafter, referred to as a “following screen”) is temporarilydisplayed on the touch panel 60. The buttons 62 and 64 are buttonsrepresenting functions. The user is able to view the multiplehierarchically displayed functions without opening or closing the nextscreen.

As illustrated in FIG. 4B, when the object 90 moves away from the button62 displayed on the touch panel 60, halfway pressing of the button 62 iscancelled. Consequently, the next screen is hidden and the originalscreen is displayed on the touch panel 60. On the other hand, asillustrated in FIG. 4C, when the object 90 touches the button 62 on thenext screen or the original screen, the button 62 is fully pressed andconsequently the next screen is displayed in an established manner onthe touch panel 60. Also, when the button 62 that represents an optionis fully pressed on an option displaying screen, a setting associatedwith the option is established.

As illustrated in FIG. 4D, when the button 64 is fully pressed as aresult of the object 90 touching the button 64 while the next screen isbeing temporarily displayed on the touch panel 60, the next screen maybe displayed in an established manner on the touch panel 60. The button64 that is fully pressed to establish the displayed screen is notnecessarily a button representing a function.

In this exemplary embodiment, the mode of temporarily displaying thenext screen is changed in accordance with a relationship of the nextscreen with respect to the original screen (which is one of a lowerlayer screen, a parallel layer screen, and an option displaying screen).Examples of the temporarily displaying mode include a full-screendisplay mode, a superimposition display mode, and a split-screen displaymode. A setting screen displayed on the touch panel 60 includes amessage display area that displays a message and a screen display areathat displays settable functions.

In the “full-screen display mode”, the next screen is displayed at theentire screen display area. When the next screen is displayed in thefull-screen display mode, the selected function may be displayed at themessage display area. In the “superimposition display mode”, the nextscreen is displayed at the entire screen display area so as to besuperimposed on the original screen. When the next screen is displayedin the superimposition display mode, the selected function may bedisplayed in an emphasized manner on the original screen. In the“split-screen display mode”, the next screen and the original screen aredisplayed at sub-areas obtained by splitting the screen display area.When the next screen is displayed in the split-screen display mode, theselected function may be displayed in an emphasized manner on theoriginal screen.

Operation Performed by Display Controller

Now, an operation performed by the display controller 30 will bedescribed.

The CPU 32 of the display controller 30 reads out a control program usedto execute the “display control process” or the like from the ROM 34 andexecutes the program by using the RAM 36 as a work area. Here, adescription will be given using setting screens of the copy process butthe service process is not limited to the copy process. For example, theservice process may be the fax process.

Overview of Display Control Process

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of the “display controlprocess” according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.The display control process starts when a “detection signal” thatrepresents an approach or touch of an object is received. As illustratedin FIG. 5, based on the detection signal, the display controller 30determines whether or not an approach of the object is detected in stepS100. If the approach of the object is detected, the process proceeds tostep S102, in which the display controller 30 identifies a function thatis selected as a result of the approach of the object.

In step S102, the display controller 30 acquires screen data of a screen(the next screen) associated with the selected function and executes a“relationship-based temporary display process” in which the next screenis temporarily displayed on the touch panel 60. In therelationship-based temporary display process, the next screen istemporarily displayed using a display mode corresponding to therelationship between the original screen and the next screen. On theother hand, if the approach of the object is not detected, a touch ofthe object is detected and thus the process proceeds to step S108. Instep S108, the display controller 30 identifies a function that isselected as a result of the touch of the object.

After the relationship-based temporary display process ends, the processproceeds to step S104, in which the display controller 30 determineswhether or not the detection signal is continuously detected. If thedetection signal is continuously detected, the process returns to stepS100 and the display controller 30 again determines whether or not anapproach of the object is detected. If the detection signal is notcontinuously detected, the process proceeds to step S106, in which thedisplay controller 30 displays the original screen on the touch panel 60and then terminates the routine.

If the process proceeds to step S108 as a result of detection of thetouch of the object, the display controller 30 acquires image data of ascreen (the next screen) associated with the selected function in stepS108. In step S110, the display controller 30 displays the next screenin an established manner on the touch panel 60 and then terminates theroutine.

Relationship-Based Temporary Display Process

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of the“relationship-based temporary display process” according to theexemplary embodiment of the present invention. At this point, thefunction selected as a result of the approach of the object isidentified. First, in step S200, the display controller 30 acquiresimage data of a screen (the next screen) associated with the selectedfunction. Then, in step S202, the display controller 30 determines therelationship between the original screen and the next screen.

Next, in step S204, the display controller 30 determines whether or notthe next screen is a lower layer screen on the basis of thedetermination result. If the next screen is a lower layer screen of theoriginal screen, the process proceeds to step S206. In step S206, thedisplay controller 30 displays the next screen at the entire screendisplay area (performs full-screen display) and displays the selectedfunction at the message display area. The display controller 30 thenterminates the routine. If the next screen is not a lower layer screen,the process proceeds to step S208.

In step S208, the display controller 30 determines whether or not thenext screen is a parallel layer screen on the basis of the determinationresult. If the next screen is a parallel layer screen of the originalscreen, the process proceeds to step S210. In step S210, the displaycontroller 30 displays the next screen at the entire screen display areaso as to be superimposed on the original screen (performssuperimposition display) and displays the selected function on theoriginal screen in an emphasized manner. The display controller 30 thenterminates the routine.

If the next screen is not a parallel layer screen, the next screen is anoption displaying screen. Accordingly, the process proceeds to stepS212. In step S212, the display controller 30 displays the next screenand the original screen at sub-areas obtained by splitting the screendisplay area (performs split-screen display) and displays the selectedfunction on the original screen in an emphasized manner. The displaycontroller 30 then terminates the routine.

Transition to Lower Layer Screen

Now, screen transition performed in the above-described“relationship-based temporary display process” will be described.

FIGS. 7A to 7D are screen transition diagrams for the case where thenext screen is a lower layer screen. FIG. 7A is a schematic diagramillustrating an example of a service selection screen. As illustrated inFIG. 7A, a service selection screen 100 is a screen that displays a listof service processes to be selected and is also called a menu screen.The service selection screen 100 includes a message display area 102 anda screen display area 104. The screen display area 104 displays multiplebuttons, which include a copy selection button 106, a fax selectionbutton 108, a scan selection button 110, a simple copy selection button112, and a simple fax selection button 114.

FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a settingscreen used to perform copying. As illustrated in FIG. 7B, a settingscreen 200 includes a message display area 202 and a screen display area204. The screen display area 204 displays a basic settings screen 206,an image quality adjustments screen 208, a reading settings screen 210,an output adjustments screen 212, and an edition settings screen 214.Each of the basic settings screen 206, the image quality adjustmentsscreen 208, the reading settings screen 210, the output adjustmentsscreen 212, and the edition settings screen 214 has a tab button fordisplaying the screen, buttons used to set various functions, and valueaccepting parts that accept set values.

Each of the basic settings screen 206, the image quality adjustmentsscreen 208, the reading settings screen 210, the output adjustmentsscreen 212, and the edition settings screen 214 illustrated in FIG. 7Bis a lower layer screen of the screen displayed at the screen displayarea 104 of the service selection screen 100 illustrated in FIG. 7A.When the object 90 approaches the copy selection button 106 on theservice selection screen 100, the copy selection button 106 is pressedhalfway.

As a result of the copy selection button 106 being pressed halfway, thebasic settings screen 206 that is a lower layer screen is temporarilydisplayed at the entire screen display area 204 of the setting screen200. Also, the message display area 202 of the setting screen 200displays that copy is selected. If the object 90 moves away from thecopy selection button 106 in this state, halfway pressing of the copyselection button 106 is cancelled and the displayed screen returns tothe service selection screen 100.

On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 7C, when the object 90 touchesthe setting screen 200 with the basic settings screen 206 beingtemporarily displayed at the screen display area 204, the copy selectionbutton 106 is fully pressed. FIG. 7C illustrates a case where the object90 touches the message display area 202. As a result of the copyselection button 106 being fully pressed, the basic settings screen 206that is a lower layer screen is displayed in an established manner atthe entire screen display area 204 of the setting screen 200 asillustrated in FIG. 7D.

After the basic settings screen 206 is displayed in an establishedmanner, the displayed screen no longer returns to the service selectionscreen 100 even if the object 90 moves away from the setting screen 200.That is, transition from the service selection screen 100 that is the“original screen” to the setting screen 200 that is the “next screen”completes. Here, an established screen may be displayed more distinctlythan a temporary screen.

Transition to Parallel Layer Screen

FIGS. 8A to 8D are screen transition diagrams for the case where thenext screen is a parallel layer screen. FIG. 8A is a schematic diagramillustrating an example of the setting screen 200 used to performcopying. As illustrated in FIG. 8A, the screen display area 204 of thesetting screen 200 displays the basic settings screen 206.

Each of the image quality adjustments screen 208, the reading settingsscreen 210, the output adjustments screen 212, and the edition settingsscreen 214 is a parallel layer screen of the basic settings screen 206.As illustrated in FIG. 8B, when the object 90 approaches the tab buttonused to display the image quality adjustments screen 208 on the settingscreen 200, the tab button is pressed halfway.

As a result of the tab button being pressed halfway, the image qualityadjustments screen 208 that is a parallel layer screen is temporarilydisplayed so as to be superimposed on the basic settings screen 206displayed at the screen display area 204. The image quality adjustmentsscreen 208 is temporarily displayed so as to be superimposed on thebasic settings screen 206 so that the basic settings screen 206 locatedbelow is seen therethrough. Also, the tab button used to display theimage quality adjustments screen 208 is displayed in an emphasizedmanner, such as by changing the color or thickening the line.Alternatively, the temporarily displayed image quality adjustmentsscreen 208 may be displayed less distinctly than the basic settingsscreen 206. If the object 90 moves away from the tab button in thisstate, halfway pressing of the tab button is cancelled and the displayedscreen returns to the basic settings screen 206.

On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 8C, when the object 90 touchesthe setting screen 200 with the image quality adjustments screen 208being temporarily displayed at the screen display area 204, the tabbutton used to display the image quality adjustments screen 208 is fullypressed. FIG. 8C illustrates a case where the object 90 touches themessage display area 202. As a result of the tab button being fullypressed, the image quality adjustments screen 208 that is a parallellayer screen is displayed in an established manner at the entire screendisplay area 204 of the setting screen 200 as illustrated in FIG. 8D.

After the image quality adjustments screen 208 is displayed in anestablished manner, the displayed screen no longer returns to the basicsettings screen 206 even if the object 90 moves away from the settingscreen 200. That is, transition from the basic settings screen 206 thatis the “original screen” to the image quality adjustments screen 208that is the “next screen” completes. Here, an established screen may bedisplayed more distinctly than a temporary screen.

Transition to Option Displaying Screen

FIGS. 9A to 9D are screen transition diagrams for the case where thenext screen is an option displaying screen. FIG. 9A is a schematicdiagram illustrating an example of the setting screen 200 used toperform copying. As illustrated in FIG. 9A, the screen display area 204of the setting screen 200 displays the image quality adjustments screen208. The image quality adjustments screen 208 displays multiple buttons,which include an “original image quality” selection button, a “copydensity” selection button, a “background color removal” selectionbutton, an “image quality adjustment” selection button, a “colorbalance” selection button, and a “hue” selection button.

A sub-screen illustrated on the right in FIG. 9B is an option displayingscreen that displays options associated with the “original imagequality” selection function displayed on the image quality adjustmentsscreen 208 illustrated in FIG. 9A. As illustrated in FIG. 9B, when theobject 90 approaches the “original image quality” selection button onthe setting screen 200, the “original image quality” selection button ispressed halfway.

As a result of the “original image quality” selection button beingpressed halfway, the screen display area 204 is split into two sub-areasand the image quality adjustments screen 208 and the option displayingscreen are displayed side by side in the screen display area 204. Also,the “original image quality” selection button used to display the optiondisplaying screen is displayed in an emphasized manner, such as bychanging the color or thickening the line. Furthermore, the messagedisplay area 202 displays conflict information indicating that functionsare not settable concurrently. The temporarily displayed optiondisplaying screen may be displayed less distinctly than the imagequality adjustments screen 208. If the object 90 moves away from the“original image quality” selection button in this state, halfwaypressing of the “original image quality” selection button is cancelledand the displayed screen returns to the image quality adjustments screen208.

On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 9C, when the object 90 touchesan option displayed on the option displaying screen with the optiondisplaying screen being temporarily displayed at the screen display area204, the “option” selection button is fully pressed. FIG. 9C illustratesa case where the object 90 touches a selection button for selecting theoption “map”. As a result of the “option” selection button being fullypressed, the option displaying screen is displayed in an establishedmanner at the entire screen display area 204 of the setting screen 200as illustrated in FIG. 9D. At the same time, the selected setting isestablished. In this example, a value “map” is set for the “originalimage quality” setting function.

After the option displaying screen is displayed in an establishedmanner, the displayed screen no longer returns to the image qualityadjustments screen 208 even if the object 90 moves away from the settingscreen 200. That is, transition from the image quality adjustmentsscreen 208 that is the “original screen” to the option displaying screenthat is the “next screen” completes. Here, an established screen may bedisplayed more distinctly than a temporary screen.

Modifications

The configurations of the display control device, the image formingapparatus, and the program described in the above-described exemplaryembodiment are merely examples and obviously the configurations thereofmay be modified within the scope that does not depart from the gist ofthe present invention.

For example, in the exemplary embodiment described above, the examplehas been described in which full-screen display is performed when thenext screen is a lower layer screen of the original screen,superimposition display is performed when the next screen is a parallellayer screen of the original screen, and split-screen display isperformed when the next screen is an option displaying screen of theoriginal screen. However, the combinations of the temporarily displayingmode and the relationship between the original screen and the nextscreen are not limited to this example. Each of the lower layer screen,the parallel layer screen, and the option displaying screen may be usedin combination with any of the full-screen display mode, thesuperimposition display mode, and the split-screen display mode.

Also, in the exemplary embodiment described above, screen transitionregarding a single next screen has been described but the number of nextscreens may be multiple. When multiple buttons displayed on the originalscreen are pressed halfway, multiple next screens are temporarilydisplayed. When a button displayed on the next screens is pressedhalfway, the following screen is temporarily displayed. In this case,the multiple next screens and the original screen may be displayed sideby side. That is, the screen display area may be split into multiplesub-areas in accordance with the number of next screens.

Additionally, in the exemplary embodiment described above, the exampleof acquiring screen data of the next screen to perform full-screendisplay, superimposition display, or split-screen display has beendescribed. Specifically, screen data of the next screen and screen dataof the original screen are combined to generate display screen data sothat an intended image is displayed.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention has been provided for the purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modificationsand variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical applications, therebyenabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited tothe particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of theinvention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A non-transitory storage medium containingprogram instructions that when executed by a processor, cause theprocessor to: display a plurality of buttons using a plurality ofscreens on a display; when an object approaches a button displayed on anoriginal screen, temporarily display a next screen associated with thebutton; and when the object touches the temporarily displayed nextscreen, transition the original screen to a next screen associated withthe temporarily displayed next screen.
 2. A non-transitory storagemedium containing program instructions that when executed by aprocessor, cause the processor to: display a plurality of buttons usinga plurality of screens on a display; when an object touches a buttondisplayed on an original screen, display a next screen associated withthe button using an entire screen area of the display; when the objectapproaches the button displayed on the original screen, display areduced image of the next screen associated with the button; and whenthe object touches the reduced image of the next screen, transition theoriginal screen to the next screen using the entire screen area of thedisplay.